大丈夫
daijōbu[da̠iʑo̞ːbɯ̟]
In Japanese, 'all good' is expressed as 大丈夫 (daijōbu).
The phrase 大丈夫 is used to indicate that something is fine, okay or safe. Depending on the context, it can also be used to politely decline an offer, meaning 'I am fine (without it)'.
Meaning: all good (phrase)
Which one should you use?
While 大丈夫 is a general way to say 'all good' or 'okay', 問題ありません is a formal way to say 'all good' and translates to 'no problems.' Additionally, 心配いらないよ is an informal way to say 'all good' that literally means 'no need to worry.'
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the negative 'not all good' or 'not okay' in an informal way, use 大丈夫じゃない.
How do you pronounce it?
daijōbu
Did you know?
- The word 大丈夫 originally described a 'manly man' or a 'hero' in ancient Chinese texts. Over time, the meaning shifted from describing a person of great strength to describing a situation that is stable or 'all good'.
- If a Japanese person says 大丈夫です with a trailing voice or a hesitant look, it often actually means 'it is not okay' or 'I cannot do it'.
- Japanese speakers often use 大丈夫 to avoid saying 'no' directly, as a blunt refusal can be seen as too aggressive. It allows the speaker to decline an offer while maintaining social harmony.
Examples in context
- 大丈夫です。daijoubu desu.It is all good.
- もう大丈夫？mou daijoubu?Are you all good now?
Example conversation
Ren is checking if Yui is okay after she tripped.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、大丈夫？Yui, daijoubu?Yui, are you all good?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、大丈夫。un, daijoubu.Yeah, I'm all good.
- 蓮 Ren怪我はない？kega wa nai?Are you injured?
- 結衣 Yui全然大丈夫だよ。zenzen daijoubu dayo.I'm all good, really.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 大丈夫, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 大丈夫, CC BY-SA 4.0.
